John 9:13-17

John 9:13-17 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath. But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided. Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

Many cults, religions, and secular people place Jesus in a role other than THE SON OF GOD: they might agree that He was a good man, a wise teacher, a mystic, one of many sons and daughters of God, or one of many gods. But Jesus is not just a good person, a prophet who came to reveal truth, or one God's children set apart for a special purpose. He is part of the one and only triune God. He came not in his own name but representing the fulness of God, saying,

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

He did not appear on this earth as another celestrial being from another planet, a parallel universe, to provide a nirvana experience: no, He is God the One who was and is and is to be, the Creator of ALL THINGS. Nothing exists outside of him.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:3-4)

Because He is and we are his creation, we breathe and possess a limited understanding of the past, present, and future. As Paul wrote:

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

After Jesus healed the blind man, the people threw the man out of town, so Jesus found him and asked this important question,

Do you believe in the Son of Man? His answer to this question would open heaven's gates if this once sightless man responded correctly, and he did:

Lord, I believe. (See John 9:35-38) When Jesus once asked his disciples who men said He was they answered,

Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But w

hen

he asked Peter,

Who do you say I am?

Peter responded with the foundational truth of eternal life with God:

You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:14 &16)

The blind man's acceptance of Christ as Son of God and Lord of his life and

Peter's affirmation of Christ's deity

represent the keys to redemption. Without accepting Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, and Savior, no man or woman can find an eternal loving relationship with a righteous and holy Father who loves us with an everlasting love. God made a way for us through the shed blood of his Son. He raised us in newness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit, created us as new creatures in his image through Christ. No man can enter it the family of God without the righteous of Christ. The Word is clear:

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:21)

Only Jesus led a sinless life.

Jesus is not a mere man full of great knowledge who performed marvelous exploits and met the needs in people's lives--He is all that and more than words could ever express. He does not stand with a host of heavenly beings or as a child of God among many children. He is not a prophet who only told the truth and led people into state of bliss. He is the Son of God who walked on Earth with power and authority, willingly gave himself for us, and rose again to ransom our souls. He is truth, light, and life. John wrote:

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true — even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

Any other affirmation of who He is remains less than the truth and falls short of the faith that brings us into fellowship with our God. Jesus said,

I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:7-9)

Jesus came for his own. Yet the fruition of the entire salvation plan depends upon us: our choice, our surrender, our belief in Jesus.

Christ stands before us as mediator, not willing that any should perish. He has royal robes to replace the filthy rags of our own righteousness. He longs to say to each person,

Well done, good and faithful servant! His question remains:

Who do you say I am?